

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valenz, Big Bopper Winter Dance Party
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 08:00 am
- **Event Description**: Dbl – $248 per person cash discount
Sgl – $327 per person cash discount
Howdy, partner! Get ready for an adventure with Starlight to **Shipshewana**! We’re talkin’ a cozy stay at the **Blue Gate Inn**, where we’ll have plenty of time to hit the shops and maybe even do a little damage at those incredible bakeries. (Seriously, clear your schedule and make room in your tummy!)

—

### Dinner &amp; a Show!

Then, it’s time to gather ’round for a delicious family-style dinner. Imagine this feast: **Roast Beef, Chicken, creamy Mashed Potatoes &amp; Gravy, crisp Green Beans, homemade Noodles**, a fresh **Garden Salad**, warm **Homemade Bread**, and a delightful assortment of **Pies**. Yum!

After all that amazing food, we’re headin’ over to the **Blue Gate Theatre**. Get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy **The Winter Dance Party**! It’s gonna be a night of great music and good times.

So, pack your bags and your appetite – it’s going to be a fantastic trip!

The official #1 tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper

John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party”® is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens and Richardson estates. Each live concert performance includes over two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50’s era: That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh, Boy, Rave on, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, and many, many more.

John Mueller, the critically acclaimed former star of the U.S. touring version of the London/Broadway hit musical “Buddy..the Buddy Holly Story,” performs as Buddy Holly with Linwood Sasser as the Big Bopper and Ray Anthony as Ritchie Valens. The very authentic and energetic four piece band (guitar, drums, stand up bass and sax) includes Grammy award winning Mike Acosta on saxaphone.

The Winter Dance Party show has performed in front of over 2 million people on national TV for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada at theatres, performing arts centers, ballrooms, corporate events, casinos and even for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others.

It is the only show endorsed and honored by Buddy’s widow Maria Elena Holly.

Highlights over the years have included performing with Grammy winner Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Orchestra, receiving the keys to the city of Green Bay, WI from the Mayor, playing in the legendary Surf ballroom on the same day Buddy, Ritchie, and the Big Bopper did 50 years prior and performing on stage with Maria Elena Holly (Buddy’s widow), Niki Sullivan (an original Cricket band member) and Tommy Allsup (original Winter Dance Party guitarist and legendary Nashville producer.)

The show also performs with full orchestration for symphonic pops concert presentations and has performed with the Detroit Symphony, the Columbus Ohio Symphony, the Jacksonville Florida Symphony, the Grand Rapids Michigan Symphony, the Philly Pops Orchestra and many more.

“Flawless… rings as clear and true as a chord from a Fender Stratocaster.”
-The Chicago Tribune “An air tight band with energy-packed execution of a long string of classics. Rather than museum pieces or mere fodder for oldies radio, these songs had all the vitality and punch that they carried 50 years ago.” -Springfield State Journal Register “Winter Dance Party captures Holly era…a dead-on re-creation of the ’59 show.” -Kalamazoo Gazette “John Mueller(as Buddy Holly) gives a stunning portrayal. Highly recommended.” -Chicago Sun Times

Departure Times: TBD

Elk Grove Home Depot – AM
Streamwood Hoosier Grove – AM
Crystal Lake Walmart – AM
Johnsburg Walmart – AM

For reservations:
Call: Charlotte @ 262-853-0484 to pay by check
Credit Cards are not accepted over the phone
Email: Char@StarlightToursLLC.com
Make Payments out to:
Starlight Tours LLC
281 Sheffield Dr
Schaumburg, IL. 60194
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/shipshewana/buddy-holly-ritchie-valenz-big-bopper-winter-dance-party/200029512985056
- **Event Categories**: entertainment, music, parties, performances, concerts, art, theatre, sports, live-music, trips-adventures, raves
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://starlighttoursllc.com/event/buddy-holly-ritchie-valenz-big-bopper-winter-dance-party/?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=shipshewana-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Shipshewana
- **state**: IN
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Blue Gate Garden Inn & Conference Center
- **lat**: 41.665904731586
- **long**: -85.582823446128
- **full address**: Blue Gate Garden Inn &amp; Conference Center, 800 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565-8610, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Starlight Tours (https://allevents.in/org/starlight-tours/14733572)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/e2ddaa911293d679961b926b232b08356451ab3625c38b120b252320ee14586b-rimg-w1200-h628-dceafe61-gmir?v=1771023407
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/9dc74e9b07cdb4cdcbb392db9fe1922289389d07aef5d509c71c58426201dd63-rimg-w300-h300-dcffffff-gmir?v=1771023407

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Thu, 19 Feb, 2026 at 08:00 am
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Blue Gate Garden Inn &amp; Conference Center, 800 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, IN 46565-8610, United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Starlight Tours
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** entertainment, music, parties, performances, concerts, art, theatre, sports, live-music, trips-adventures, raves
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valenz, Big Bopper Winter Dance Party ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

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